The former executive director of the Chelsea Housing Authority on Thursday pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawfully soliciting contributions to support the political campaign of former Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and others.

THIS IS WCVB, NEWSCENTER 5 MIDDAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SCANDAL-PLAGUED CHELSEA HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS GONE BEFORE A JUDGE. MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN HAS BEEN ACCUSED, AND HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FEDERAL FRAUD. TODD KAZAKIEWICH IS LIVE WITH A REPORT. SUSAN, THE LEGAL PROBLEMS AGAINST MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN ARE ONLY MOUNTING. HE'S FREE ON PERSONAL RECOG RECOGNIZANCE BUF, BUTFACES CHARGES. HE WAS INDICTED BY A GRAND JURY ON 12 COUNTS. PROSECUTORS ALLEGE WHILE HE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CHELSEA HOUSING AUTHORITY, HE SOLICITED DONATIONS FROM HIS SUBORDINATES FOR TIM MURRAY'S CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR. IT'S POSSIBLE THAT A PLEA DEAL MAY BE REACHED BEFORE MCLAUGHLIN HEADS TO FEDERAL PRISON NEXT WEEK TO SERVE A THREE-YEAR SENTENCE FOR LYING TO REGULATORS ABOUT HIS SALARY WHILE DIRECTOR OF CHELSEA HOUSING. WE MAY GET MORE DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS CASE PERHAPS AS EARLY AS THIS AFTERNOON.